Single piece valve plate assembly for a reciprocating compressor

A valve plate assembly for a compressor assembly that includes a compressor housing defining multiple cylinders, the valve plate assembly comprising:

• a valve plate configured to separate suction-pressure working fluid entering the cylinders of the compressor housing in a first direction from discharge-pressure working fluid exiting the cylinders of the compressor housing in a second direction, the valve plate defining a discharge valve seat;
• and
• a suction valve retainer configured to retain a suction valve within a suction valve seat disposed about a central longitudinal axis of one of the cylinders and to extend radially outward from the central longitudinal axis without extending radially beyond a suction passage of the compressor housing, wherein:
• the suction valve retainer is configured to sealingly contact an outer perimeter of the suction valve to limit movement of the suction valve in the second direction when discharge-pressure working fluid is expelled from the cylinders of the compressor housing;
• the suction valve retainer includes interconnected annular disk portions that are each configured to be disposed about the central longitudinal axis of one the cylinders;
• the valve plate and the suction valve retainer are separate from each other;
• the valve plate is configured to be mounted to a first mounting surface of the compressor housing, and the suction valve retainer is configured to be mounted to a second mounting surface of the compressor housing that is different than the first mounting surface;
• and
• the first mounting surface is raised relative to the second mounting surface.